Dye spattering machine



April 3o, 1940.

H. C. WOLFENDEN DYE SPATTERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 2 2,770 Mo? 1. wf

torwqq H. c. woLFENDEN 2,199,093

DYE SPATTERING MACHINE April 3o, 1940.

Filed Deo. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 1a 55 30 so 14- is is 1, '`6 LApril 30, 1940. H. c. woLFl-:NDEN

DYE SPATTERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 22, 1937 al1/'ForneyPatented. Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DYE SPATTERINGMACHINE Harry C. Wolfenden, Attleboro, Mass. Application December 22,1937, Serial No. 181,176 f lOlaim.

My present invention is a novel and improved machine for use in dyeingarticles by splashing or spattering dye thereon, and more particularly'by using an uneven spotting -or spattering action.

In the present methods of applying dye to yarn, cloth, or fabric variousapparatus are employed to produce spotted effects, but al1 such priormachines and methods have resulted in substantially regular spots,lines, or figures. In my present invention I have devised a machine forproducing irregular and non-recurring spots, lines, and mottled effectson yarn, cloth, or fabric by means of a spattering, splashing orthrowing operation of the dye against the material being treated, thusresulting in irregular and non-recurring spots of dye or coloringmaterial on the articles.

I effect this new result preferably by conveying the yarn, cloth, orfabric thru a machine, or

machines, and subjecting the same to a splashing action of the color orcolors which it is desired to apply to the material being treated. By aseries of such splashing operations, feeding the material thrusuccessive machines, I am enabled to produce irregular and mottledcolored effects, thus producing my novel and improved article bythemethod and machine operations hereinafter explained.

In carrying out my present invention I provide means to treat thearticles, suchl as yarn for example, by drawing the same preferably thrua moistening treatment; then thru a spattering apparatus, then thru adrying treatment, and thence to a reeling machine where the yarn iswound into skeins.

Where successive colors are to be splashed or spattered on theyarn, Imay conduct the same thru successive apparatus for the splashing anddrying and then onto the Winding or reeling machine. Strips of fabric,cloth, or other articles may be similarly fed thru these successivemachines or thru a single machine when only one color is being applied.

My novel apparatusv consist of means to feed dye or color from a troughor tank by a series of rotating teeth or blades capable of yielding andspringing, and having the ends strike against a projection, orprojections, such for example as a roller in the line of travel,whereupon the blades as they leave the projection will throw, splash, orspatter spots of dye upon and against the material which is being fedtherethru.

Preferably I provide moistening means which will still further enablethe splashing dye to l(Cl. 68-200) permeate the material and, preferablyalso I conduct the now splashed material over or thru a dryingdevice'to'set the spots thus'splashed. Thereupon, a successive dyeingoperation of a diierent color can be applied in the line of travel ofthe material, so that varying mottled effects are produced quickly,economical1y,andv successively as the material is fed thru the apparatusand on to a winding reel.

Additional features consist in means to control the areay and effectiveextent of the spattering action, means to collect and return thelsurplus coloring material thrown or spattered;

means to vary the speed of travel or the level of the coloring materialand, hence, to control the amount of same being thrown by the spatteringdevices, means to eifect the moistening, and means to protect readyaccessibility in the cleaning of the apparatus.

Further features, advantages, novel combinations, and details will behereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 1 is a side rview partly in cross-section illustrating themoistening, splashing, and dry ing of the material as it is fedtherethru;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic form illustratingk a splashedfragment of yarn which has been subjected to my method'and apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the side of the apparatus looking fromthe drive end of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. l; i

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 'l--l of Fig. l; f

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the feeding of yarn from aplurality of spools thru my apparatus on to a skein-winding reel;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a plurality or series oftreatments and apparatus therefor; v y

Fig.'10 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the spattering teeth;

Fig. 1l illustrates a fragmentary set of teeth with rubber-retainingstrips to prevent crystalization;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the manner of holdingthe 'teeth and rotor, and

Fig. 13 is a modification showing a doctor roll.

In the attached drawings, I have illustrated Y forceful dye-throwingaction, and for this -puryarn 58 is threaded and thence over themoistening rolls 1I, and thence thru the comb teeth 55 on the slide 55and so thru the slot 49 and across the front of the apparatus, the lineof feed being inthe direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, over a dryer andthenceto the'winding reel, where each thread is wound into a skein. l

In order to insure a uniform contact of the yarn 58 over the surface ofthe vmoistening rolls 1I I prefer to apply a guide roll 85 mountedclosely adjacent the teeth 58. This guide roll is preferably hinged at88 to a stud 81 mounted on the cover 38 and with the other enddetachably secured to the corresponding stud 88 resting in a slot insaid stud so that the fr end of the guide roll 85 may be raised on itshin e 86 when threading the yarn 58 thru the comb teeth 56. Thereuponthe rod 85 is swung downwardly into position bearing against the yarn 58and insuring contact of the same over the moistening roll 1I, as bestshown in Fig. 1.

The spattering devices within the tank 3 and cover 38 will now bedescribed. These consist in a series of individual spring teeth 98arranged in rows and secured to the hub I2 mounted on the shaft I8.These teeth 98 may be formed in any desired manner but preferably, andas herein shown, I stamp or cut the same from a metal plate SI, whichplate is solid at the lower portion where it is adapted to fit withinslots or grooves 92 in the rim portion of the hub I2, and preferablyalso'I attach to the hub as addi- ,tional supporting means spacers andholders for the teeth 98, a series of U-shaped metal flanged members 95having the bottom or U portion secured to the hub I2 by screws 96, seeFig, 12. These U-shaped anges 95 act to hold and support the teeth 98while permitting the diameter of the hub I2 to be of relatively slightdiameter.

I may also secure to the teeth 98 or to the supporting plate 9| stripsof rubber on each side 98, 98, see Fig. 11, which will fit or slidebetween the flanges of adjacent U-shaped members 95 in alignment withthe slots 92 in thehub and prevent crystallizingof the teeth during thespringing of said teeth to effectthe throwing, spattering, and spottingaction of the dye within the tank 3 on the yarn 58.

In order to have the teeth 98 uniformly positioned in the respectiverows, Iprefer to thread each end of the hub I2 and t thru a clamping nut|88, which nut is held in position by the threading of the locking nutI8| thereagainst, a washer |82 being fitted between the clamping nut I88and the locking nut I8I. One or more set screws |85 are provided toclamp the hub I2 to the shaft I8, see Fig. 5.

In order to drain the tank 3, I provide a'plug I I8 threaded. into atapped recess |83 in the bottom of the tank 3 to draw oli' the dyecontained therein and for flushing and cleaning the same after themachine has been in service;

As previously explained the height of the dyecontaining bottle 25 in theconduit 2| will regulate the level within the tank 3 into which theteeth 98 dip during the rotation of the shaft I8. Raising the height ofthe bottle 25 by washers (not shown) between the same and the flangedholding portion 22 will increase the height of the dye or coloringliquid in the tank 3 and increase the amount thrown or spattered by theteeth 98.

While rotation of the shaft I8 will effect a throwing of the dye againstthe yarn 58 thru the opening between the sliding plates 35 and 36, yet Iprefer to effect a more positive and pose I provide an adjustable member|I2 in position so that the entire teeth 98 of the series will contactwith the same and spring by as the shaft I8 continues its rotation. Thisgives a more positive and forceful throwing action ofthe dye against theyarn 58 and aids in the penetration of the yarn by the coloring materialthus thrown.

I also find it desirable to adjust the position of this contact memberII2 and, therefore, I mount the same on a slide I|5 secured by a setscrew IIS thru a slot -in the slide I |5 to the extension ||8 on theedge of the tank 3.

At the left, viewed in Fig. 1, a thumb nut |28 is secured to the slideI|5 and rotates thru an upstanding lug |24 also secured to the extensionII8. 'Ihe thumb nut |28 is secured to a shaft |25, which shaft has itsend threaded ||5 and consequently the contact member I|2 toward and fromthe teeth 98 to regulate the springing eect and, hence, the throwing andsplashing action, as will be readily understood.

After the yarn is treated by the operator or throwing of the teeth l98springing by the contact member ||2, I prefer to effect an immediatedrying ofthe treated yarn, and for this purpose I provide a dryingdevice eiiective to dry the treated yarn as soon as it `cornes out ofthe apparatus. Anysuitable drying element can be employed, but as hereinshown, I provide a rotating fan |24 mounted on a shaft I2I and rotatedby an electric motor |22 enclosing the fan in a box |38 mounted on thebench I adjacent the spattering apparatus. If desired, a heater I3| canbe fitted within the box |38 so that the warm air will be driven by thefan |24 upwardly thru the open'top of the box |38 as the yarn 58 passesthereover.

A plurality of series of these dye-throwing devices can be'arranged totreat the yarn 58 successively in its line of travel from a rack or reel|35, see Fig. 8, to the winding device |38 on which the skeins are woundand then the winding device |38 collapsed, and then the skeins removed.

As shown in Fig. 9, I have shown a series of three dyeing apparatus,each with or without the guiding devices; and in such a series I findthat one moistening device and one drying device is sufcient. To rotatethe spattering and moistening devices, any suitable source of power canbe utilized, transmitting the same thru the sprocket chain |48 to thewheel I8 secured to the shaft I8 and from the'pulley I1 also secured tothe shaft I8 and to the pulley 15 by a belt I4I.

Various colors can be thus applied to the yarn 58 during its continualtravel, and the spotting, splashing, and coloring is of a mottled andrandom-like design, "entirely unregulated and irregular.

I have shown in Fig. 13 the provision of a doctor roll which will pickup the surplus dye, (when yarn is 'being treated), which is thrown thruthe strands of yarn 'and might strike against the bottom of the trough53 and, hence, drip down upon the yarn before the same passes thru theapparatus andvbeyond the apron 48. Thus the yarn might be spotted in anundesirable way, particularly when the sliding guides 35 and 35 are opento their fullest extent. To prevent such dripping from the trough 53, Imay provide a

